Lurker who just signed up, put this together for fun and just wanted to share. Please dont murder me and my family if you disagree with certain aspects of it lol
Couple disclaimers, I used simulators to put it together. Fanspeak for free agency and thedraftnetwork for the mock draft, so I'm just working under the scenarios the simulators give me. Obviously many of the players may not actually be availible to us, but I definitely reccomend anyone who enjoys this stuff to use them to organize and spitball ideas.
Also initially I did this with long detailed explanations (plus the contract breakdowns) for basically each and every move but.. from what I understand you guys dont wanna read a novel and it was getting abnoxiously long so I decided to leave it all out and just let you make what you will of them. Anyway here it is in a nutshell.
Cut: Nate Solder, Janoris Jenkins, Alec Ogletree, Kareem Martin, Rhett Ellsion.
(This put us around like 88m in cap room heading into FA I believe.)
Resign: Leonard Williams, Markus Golden
Notable open market signings:
Byron Jones CB Dallas Cowboys
Justin Simmons FS Denver Broncos
Jack Conklin RT Tennesse Titans
Andrus Peat LG (convert to LT) New Orleans Saints
Joe Schobert LB Cleveland Browns
Connor McGovern C Denver Broncos
Anthony Sherman FB Kansas City Chiefs
Ryan Allen P Atlanta Falcons
Charles Clay TE Arizona Cardinals
My strategy here was to go relatively high on guarunteed dollars (between 35-45% on the big 4-5 year deals and up to 75% on the low end short term deals) to get the guys I wanted without totally crushing the cap on a small few, and of course it automatically backroads the deals as most NFL contracts are constructed. So obviously the initial cap hits were for the most part significantly lower than average annual salary of the contract, making this all doable. For example Byron Jones signed for 14m a year over 4 years (40% gtd), and Justin Simmons signed for 13m a year over 5 years (45% gtd) and their immediate cap hits were each a little over 10 million.
After free agency (with the draft reserve accounted for) there was about 19.7m remaining to fill out the roster. So despite the fact that this is obviously very dreamy it is FINNANCIALLY doable, but would require some risk on our part IF we could convince players to take maybe 1 or 2m less a year than what may be their market value, but for more guarunteed money.. not an unreasonable sell. Anyway on to the mock draft.
1. Chase Young Edge Ohio State
2. Devonta Smith WR Alabama
3. Najee Harris RB Alabama
4. Jordan Fuller S Ohio State
5. Patrick Queen LB LSU
6. Mekhi Becton T Louiseville
7. Jon Runyan T/G Michigan
Side note: in a perfect world I'd really like to have Ron Rivera running this team, but let's be real. Shurmur ain't going anywhere sadly.
Fire away.
Gracias!
I figured that would raise some eyebrows, however I think it's imperative to get an insurance policy for Saquon this offseason.
Also if it makes it any better it's a compensatory pick so it's basically a 4th rounder and for me Najee was kinda BPA there. Plus up to that point (in this particular scenario) I was able to cover the starting lineup. Oline has its starting 5. I thought about LB for depth but thought Saquons backup was more important. I like Schobert and Connelly as the starting off ball LBs with David Mayo and either Patrick Queen or Khaleke Hudson in the later rounds as their back ups.
Unless by LBs you mean the edge rushers which personally I'm quite comfortable with, Chase Young on one side and on the other side more of a platoon with Golden and either Carter or Ximines. To me that's 4 playable edge rushers which is very good depth.
Well he's actually a natural LT, that's what he was coming out of Stanford just a few short years ago. His athletic profile and feet point more towards him being a tackle.
The reason he got shoe horned into playing guard for the saint is pretty simply because the have the best tandem of tackles in the league.
He's been a solid LG for them, I think he'd be even better going back to his natural position.
To have success as a guard at 6'7 is.. quite an oddity.
We're not signing Peat to convert him to tackle.
As of now, I'd be stunned if Becton lasted until the sixth round.
No interest in a RB in the third round.
Young will likely be gone before our pick.
We're not signing Peat to convert him to tackle.
As of now, I'd be stunned if Becton lasted until the sixth round.
No interest in a RB in the third round.
Young will likely be gone before our pick.
Ty!
But I think we absolutely have to get a veteran corner. Cant just say we spent a 1st round pick and some mid to late round picks and call it a day regardless of their play.
Gettleman to his credit isnt Reese, he'll quickly address his mistakes. This secondary has been maybe the worst unit on the team, you dont sit there with all these resources and just say itll improve on it's own. Gotta throw some money at it, especially considering you wont have many opprotunities to get a Byron Jones.
If we go into next season with Baker, Beal, Love, Ballentine as our corners... we're gonna be talking about the offseason in week 5 again lol
For the record I despised the Baker pick to begin with, personally I was banging the table for Greedy Williams. I still think the whole league screwed up on that one (letting him fall as far as he did).
Quote:
yikes...
Well he's actually a natural LT, that's what he was coming out of Stanford just a few short years ago. His athletic profile and feet point more towards him being a tackle.
The reason he got shoe horned into playing guard for the saint is pretty simply because the have the best tandem of tackles in the league.
He's been a solid LG for them, I think he'd be even better going back to his natural position.
To have success as a guard at 6'7 is.. quite an oddity.
Even though he is tall and long reach he was sloppy and not well put together and soft up top. He also had a rep of being lazy and struggled badly against de’s that were good but not nfl quality good. What makes you think that after 3 years of playing guard he’s magically an adequate tackle. The saints who drafted him decided after all of 15 and 16 he wasn’t good enough to be a starting tackle so they wasted another 1st round pick on ramczyk. If he was qualified to be a tackle, he would be playing there. Instead he’s a slightly above average guard who is likely going to be allowed to walk at the end of the year
Quote:
In comment 14685188 90.Cal said:
Quote:
yikes...
Well he's actually a natural LT, that's what he was coming out of Stanford just a few short years ago. His athletic profile and feet point more towards him being a tackle.
The reason he got shoe horned into playing guard for the saint is pretty simply because the have the best tandem of tackles in the league.
He's been a solid LG for them, I think he'd be even better going back to his natural position.
To have success as a guard at 6'7 is.. quite an oddity.
Even though he is tall and long reach he was sloppy and not well put together and soft up top. He also had a rep of being lazy and struggled badly against de’s that were good but not nfl quality good. What makes you think that after 3 years of playing guard he’s magically an adequate tackle. The saints who drafted him decided after all of 15 and 16 he wasn’t good enough to be a starting tackle so they wasted another 1st round pick on ramczyk. If he was qualified to be a tackle, he would be playing there. Instead he’s a slightly above average guard who is likely going to be allowed to walk at the end of the year
Ya know I actually forgot he came before Ramcyzk. So he actually did get to play tackle with the saints? To be fair he couldnt have played LT because theyve had Terron Armstead there for quite a while. Meaning he could have only played the power side which I would agree hes not a fit for. But you may have a point.
Only part you kinda lost me is it seems as though youre implying a lack of upper body strength would be hidden at guard when.. itd probably get more exposed there.
It's an odd case for sure, usually guys get moved from tackle to guard over either length concerns as you already eluded to, or choppy feet. Guys who take too many steps to try and get in front of a rusher trying to bend the arc rather than a smooth kicklside.
Also for the record it goes without saying that I don't watch enough of other teams to really study their players so to some degree I am going off of reputation or in some cases what I may remember of them when they came in through the draft if it was someone I paid attention to (which of course may or may not still be relevant)
My counter to your plan would be Clowney, Schobert in FA, then find some value.
My counter to your plan would be Clowney, Schobert in FA, then find some value.
I'm desperate to compete man lol
Plus I believe in Daniel Jones, I think it's entirely concieveable that if we (as you said) go for broke we could at least make some noise with year 2 Daniel, just gotta get some semblance of a team around him.
Well.. I'll preface that with a big MAYBE because I do not at all believe in this coaching staff, and I've always been a firm believer that if you dont win the chess match you dont win the game. Unless maybe you have an absolute bomb squad.
Quote:
and nice post...only reason I don't think we are going to spend a ton of money on a bunch of free agents, is we really can't go for broke. I know your strategy you outlined is pretty doable with the money...but this team is really not even ready to contend next year let alone 2021. I think Gettleman's strategy will be 2 high priced FA players, try to find some nice 1-2 year deals (guys like Golden) and then try to crush the draft.
My counter to your plan would be Clowney, Schobert in FA, then find some value.
I'm desperate to compete man lol
Plus I believe in Daniel Jones, I think it's entirely concieveable that if we (as you said) go for broke we could at least make some noise with year 2 Daniel, just gotta get some semblance of a team around him.
Well.. I'll preface that with a big MAYBE because I do not at all believe in this coaching staff, and I've always been a firm believer that if you dont win the chess match you dont win the game. Unless maybe you have an absolute bomb squad.
Agreed on the coaching staff. We had most our top players vs Det and Cards and those IMO were the litmus tests. Not great teams and a few games in for DJ .
Its unfortunate. But they need to get a legit coach in here ASAP. Rivera or Tomlin would be good starts.
Quote:
In comment 14685194 Thankyoueli said:
Quote:
In comment 14685188 90.Cal said:
Quote:
yikes...
Well he's actually a natural LT, that's what he was coming out of Stanford just a few short years ago. His athletic profile and feet point more towards him being a tackle.
The reason he got shoe horned into playing guard for the saint is pretty simply because the have the best tandem of tackles in the league.
He's been a solid LG for them, I think he'd be even better going back to his natural position.
To have success as a guard at 6'7 is.. quite an oddity.
Even though he is tall and long reach he was sloppy and not well put together and soft up top. He also had a rep of being lazy and struggled badly against de’s that were good but not nfl quality good. What makes you think that after 3 years of playing guard he’s magically an adequate tackle. The saints who drafted him decided after all of 15 and 16 he wasn’t good enough to be a starting tackle so they wasted another 1st round pick on ramczyk. If he was qualified to be a tackle, he would be playing there. Instead he’s a slightly above average guard who is likely going to be allowed to walk at the end of the year
Ya know I actually forgot he came before Ramcyzk. So he actually did get to play tackle with the saints? To be fair he couldnt have played LT because theyve had Terron Armstead there for quite a while. Meaning he could have only played the power side which I would agree hes not a fit for. But you may have a point.
Only part you kinda lost me is it seems as though youre implying a lack of upper body strength would be hidden at guard when.. itd probably get more exposed there.
It's an odd case for sure, usually guys get moved from tackle to guard over either length concerns as you already eluded to, or choppy feet. Guys who take too many steps to try and get in front of a rusher trying to bend the arc rather than a smooth kicklside.
Also for the record it goes without saying that I don't watch enough of other teams to really study their players so to some degree I am going off of reputation or in some cases what I may remember of them when they came in through the draft if it was someone I paid attention to (which of course may or may not still be relevant)
Most tackles are moved to guard because they can’t hand a defender in space. Typically outta college if they have short arms they get drafted to play guard. Most real tackle prospects out of college have long arms, they get drafted to play tackle (like peat) and when they can’t handle rush moves from nfl caliber players they get kicked into guard. Although typically guards are shorter, stockier players, playing with someone on either side of you tends to allow better use of block leverage. also interior linemen are 1v1 considerably less than most tackles unless the defense is stacking the box due to there typically being 3-4 defensive linesman on the los vs. 5 offensive lineman.
I created a thread asking if Peat could be an option for the giants at LT or RT but Sy confirmed that he’s strictly a guard. I would hang onto Solder through the draft at least to see how that plays out. I would target an OT early especially a LT.
There is no way Mekhi Becton falls to round 6. He might sneak into the end of round 1.
He does well in space, but apparently not on the outside. It seems he has above average feet for a guard which allow him an advantage against interior rushers 1v1, but sub par feet for a tackle and a whole slew of technique issues which are badly exposed on the edge (bad hand placement, doesnt initiate contact, head down) not that those fundamentals or lack of dont show up no matter where you are on the line.
But one thing that I thought was interesting, is that apparently his technique causes a lot of problems on combo blocks, such as snapping off and moving on to the 2nd level before the initial block is sealed.
From what I gathered it seems as though he has traits to be good at each position, but also things that just kill him at each position lol and for what it's worth he does not seem very popular amongst the saints fan base.
Maybe a bad call on that one
Not ready to speculate on specific players yet, just too early to know who is getting tagged or resigned. I do know the positions I want filed and that takes ten players to accomplish, five on each side of the ball. No reason we can't plug in 6 this year given our riches, then four the next. This will not take as long as many think if the right moves are made. We certainly have the assets. I will keep reading everyone's ideas on this subject as long as you all keep posting them. Once again, nice job!
Losing out most likely has us picking #2 behind Cincinnati, and I have zero confidence this team can win a game, even against Washington or Miami.
I could easily see this as a multiple LB and S draft. Leaving you free agency for offense line. And wrs for the following year.
I have no idea about your proposed left tackle switch. Leave that to others. But he's younger so that's good.
Personally, I don't see them going that crazy in FA. Who knows what DG is thinking (rhetorical question, but the answer is: no one), but I am getting the sense this whole process is geared toward 2021 being the year we look to truly compete. I think they should try to squeeze whatever they can out of Solder by moving him to RT. If he can't play there either, cut him in the 20/21 offseason for a lesser dead money number. It's probably smart to cut Jenkins in the offseason, though part of me would like to see him put together a really good contract year next year. Getting Chase Young would be incredible.
Filling out the roster with mid level and lower tier players I feel is much easier/quicker to negotiate.
At the very least, for me, you've put some names in my head to mull over and who is a reach and who is a possibility.
Well thank god for that...
What has it gotten us? If we're being generous MAYBE the 2nd worst secondary in the league?
If we dont throw serious resource at this catostrophically weak link, I'll be ready for Dave to get his walking papers.
Fortunately that is Reese-like thinking. I'm confident in DG to get this team away from that thought process. His resources are practically infinite, to not use it in a certain area because you've already spent a little draft capitol there is a broken philosophy. When you have this kinda money, you address your weaknesses. Not count where you've stashed your little beans.
Sorry but I can not get on board with that thought process at all.